The pelage is rather furry, with the upper parts pale brown
and the underparts lighter. The ears are quite large, extending beyond the
muzzle when laid flat. The anterior nose leaf is broad; the sella is widest at
its base; the lancet is taller than it is wide. The canines and the upper
premolars are unmodified; the middle lower incisor is variable, sometimes
outside the tooth row, or half in the tooth row, or even completely in the row.

Range Description:

This species has a very wide
range from South Asia eastwards to Japan, occurring also in southern and
southwestern China, including Taiwan, southwards through mainland Southeast Asia
to Indonesia and Borneo. The distribution of the geographically isolated
subspecies is given below.

Subspecies pusillus is widely distributed in South Asia, southern and
Southwestern China and much of Southeast Asia. In South Asia it is widely
distributed and is presently known from India (Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Sikkim,
Uttarakhand and West Bengal) and Nepal (Central and Western Nepal) (Molur et al.
2002). Recently collected from Kothaiyar Dam site in Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve, Tamil Nadu (Vanitharani et al. 2005). In China, it has been recorded
from Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan Island and
Yunnan (Smith and Xie 2008). It appears to be present throughout most of
continental Southeast Asia, ranging from Myanmar in the west, to Vietnam in the
east and as far south as Peninsular Malaysia. It has also been recorded from
Indonesia (including the Mentawi Islands and the islands of Sumatra, Java and
Bali), and from Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Sabah (Malaysia). In South Asia it
has been recorded from 200 to 1,370 m asl (Molur et al. 2002).

Subspecies is endemic to Taiwan, Province of China (Smith and Xie 2008). It
occupies low elevations on the island (Chen et al. 2006).

Subspecies cornutus is endemic to Japan. It ranges from Hokkaido south to
Okinoerabu on Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Sado Islands, Izu-Oshima, Niijima,
Miyake, Mikura, Hachijo, Tsushima, Iki, Fukue, Yaku, Tane, Kuchinoerabu,
Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, and Tokunoshima (Abe, 2005). It includes as a synonym
perditus which is found only on the Yaeyama Islands (Iriomote, Ishigaki,
Taketomi, and Kohama), and imaizumii (described from Iriomote) (Abe, et al.,
2005).

Subspecies pumilus is endemic to Japan, where it is found on three islands in
the Ryukyus: Okinawa, Iheya, and Kume. The species is believed to have become
extinct on Miyako (30 years ago) and Irabu (probably around 5 years ago).

Subspecies pumilus breeding colonies are on Okinawa, where the subpopulation is
estimated at 5,000 or more. Only three major breeding colonies of 200, 1500 and
2000 individuals are currently known (Ministry of the Environment, 2002). On the
smaller two islands, the total subpopulation is less than 300 individuals.
Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology:

It has been recorded from
both primary and secondary tropical moist forest, roosting in caves (up to 1,500
animals in China) and houses (usually a smaller colony size). Animals have been
recorded foraging low over bamboo clumps in limestone areas (Molur et al. 2002;
Smith and Xie 2008). This species is characterized as a forest-interior
specialist that is not readily adaptable to open habitats (Chen et al. 2006).
Systems: Terrestrial

Major Threat(s):

There appear to be no major
threats to this species.

Conservation Actions:

The species has been recorded
from Phamong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim and Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger
Reserve, Tamil Nadu in India. Ecological studies and population monitoring are
needed (Molur et al. 2002). It is present in numerous protected areas in
Southeast Asia. Subspecies is listed as Endangered (EN) in the Japanese Red List
(2007)